As I discussed at some length in my latest podcast with Jibblescribbits[2], the issue of Peter Mueller being let go by the Avalanche for nothing is another that one can easily foresee coming back to bite the Avs in the rear.

The last player the Avs let go to Florida as an unrestricted free agent was Tomas Fleischmann in 2011, partially because the Avs had concerns about his medical history and ability to stay healthy. All Fleischmann did last season for the playoff-bound Panthers was put up 27 goals and 61 points, playing in ALL 82 games. It has become clear that that was a blunder of a decision by Avalanche management.

I’ve heard from some people out there that Fleischmann would never have been able to play in Denver for the long term because of what the altitude would do to his pulmonary embolism condition that prematurely ended his season in 2011 with Colorado. I’m not a doctor, but Fleischmann seemed to play just fine in the game he played at the Pepsi Center this season with Florida, and Denver isn’t the only NHL city above sea level (Calgary, Edmonton, Phoenix).

Point is, the Avs were burned by that decision. They desperately needed help at the left wing last season, right where Fleischmann plays. Now, they’ve let another talented left winger go in Mueller, for what seem like essentially the same reasons: they didn’t think he could stay healthy with any consistency, and didn’t want to pay him to take that gamble.

Now, he’s a Panther, and he sure sounds healthy, if this article in the Miami Herald[3] today is to be believed. One of Mueller’s quotes to the newspaper is: “I’m ready to rock and roll this coming season”, and that he hasn’t felt so good physically as he does now since his rookie season in Phoenix, when he scored 22 goals.

Meanwhile, the Avs still have a hole at left wing. Gabriel Landeskog is a tremendous left winger and Jamie McGinn should be good there as well. But after that? The pickings are slim, and now the Avs have let a 24-year-old left winger with a lot of talent go to the Florida Panthers.